Obama: Now Is the Time for Iran to Settle Nuclear Dispute

WASHINGTON, March 18 (Reuters) - Shortly before leaving for
a trip to Israel, President Barack Obama on Monday said now was
the time for Iran to take "immediate and meaningful steps" to
reduce tensions with the international community over its
nuclear program.

As he has done in previous years, Obama used the occasion of
Iran's new year celebration to urge Tehran to resolve
differences with Washington and other Western nations over its
nuclear ambitions.

"Iran's leaders say that their nuclear program is for
medical research and electricity. To date, however, they have
been unable to convince the international community that their
nuclear activities are solely for peaceful purposes," Obama said
in a statement.

"Now is the time for the Iranian government to take
immediate and meaningful steps to reduce tensions and work
toward an enduring, long-term settlement of the nuclear issue,"
he said.

Obama said the United States preferred a peaceful,
diplomatic solution to the dispute. Later this week the
president will visit Israel and Jordan, where the topic of Iran
is expected to be high on his agenda.
(Reporting by Jeff Mason and Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Eric
Beech)